Stakeholders renew commitment for Quality Education to Learners with Disabilities
The Regional Delegation of Secondary Education in the West Region and the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services’ Empowerment and Disability Inclusive Development (EDID) program.
have signed a partnership agreement in the domain of facilitating access to Quality Inclusive Education in mainstream Secondary Schools for learners with disabilities in the West Region of Cameroon.
The event took place at the Regional Delegation of Secondary Education (RDSE) in Bafoussam on December 31, 2020, during the Stakeholder and Management Committee Meeting of the Quality Education for All project. The meeting held to appraise the implementation of the project in 2020 and present the plan of action for 2021.
This vital document was signed by the Regional Delegate for Secondary Education in the West Region, Dr. Ngabnya Francois, and the Program Manager of the EDID program, Mrs. Agho Glory Tsangue who signed for and on behalf of the Director of the CBC Health Services. The 2-year renewable agreement extends to December 2023. During this term, both parties shall work collaboratively to improve the participation and performance of learners with impairments in Secondary Education in mainstream Government Secondary Schools in the West Region of Cameroon to improve access of learners with disabilities to quality education in all Divisions and Sub Divisions in the West Region.
In addition to collaboration in strengthening access to quality secondary education for children with disabilities in the West Region of Cameroon, other objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) are for the Regional Delegation to ensure the continuity of the ‘Quality Education for All initiative’ after the pilot and funding phase by the CBC Health Services’ EDID program ends in 2021, work collaboratively in the training of inclusive teachers in the Region, and support each other in the implementation of activities seeking to promote inclusive education in the West Region.
It is worth noting that the CBC Health Services has worked in partnership with the West Regional Delegation of Secondary Education since 2017 and putting pen to paper only goes a long way to solemnize an already existing cordial working relationship. Mrs. Agho used this event to appreciate the work done in this union especially the impact on the lives of children, youths, and adults with disabilities in the West Region. Her assurance to the Delegate is that the partnership will enable the work to be extended to more people in need.
Mrs. Agho relayed the message from the Director of the CBC Health Services, Prof. Tih Pius Muffih, in which he appreciated the role played by all stakeholders to ensure that children with disabilities get access to quality inclusive education. She emphasized goal number 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals on the provision of 12 years of free publicly-funded, inclusive, equitable, quality Primary and Secondary Education with 9 years of compulsory study that leads to relevant learning outcomes, a goal she appreciated the Government of Cameroon for intentionally implementing through the Ministry of Social Affairs in collaboration with Disability Inclusive Development partners like the CBC Health Services.
After signing the MoU, the Regional Delegate on behalf of the Minister for Secondary Education congratulated the CBC Health Services for the work they are doing to uphold the rights and dignity of children with disabilities in education. He noted the importance of the partnership which legalizes the collaboration between the two partners in inclusive education.
The Regional Delegate for Social Affairs Mr. Njie Fidelis weighed in by appreciating the work done so far in Lycee Classique and Lycee Bilingue in Bafoussam, noting that services for students with disabilities have greatly improved, alongside knowledge on children, youths, and adults with disabilities. He announced that the Social Action Services instituted and functional at Lycee Classique, will be extended to Lycee Bilingue. This service helps to facilitate the work of different stakeholders in the work for children with disabilities. To this, he promised to work to ensure that the Minister of Social Affairs deploys a social worker to begin this service at Lycee Bilingue.
The event was witnessed by the representatives of the City Mayor of Bafoussam, Mme Nouafo Auguette, the Mayor of Bafoussam I Council, Foko Christian, the Administrator of Bafoussam Baptist Health Centre, Mr. Fambombi Dickson, and all other stakeholders in the QEA project in the West Region.
